Press Play to Hear the Music
The Golden Gate Theatre Days
December 1979 - January 1990
I'm often asked what my favorite show was during those ten years. As time
went on and great shows came and went, it was something I would often ask
myself as well, and it seemed to change as the next great one came to town.
Looking back, I have to say, my favorites (note, plural) included the aforementioned
Camelot with Richard Burton. It was during the run at the Golden Gate in
1980-81 that the famous actor developed the health problems that eventually
forced him to leave the show shortly after it left San
Francisco and traveled to Los Angeles, where he was replaced by Richard
Harris. There was never anything in any of the shows that matched the thrill
and mesmerizing excitement that the charismatic Burton evoked when he burst
upon the stage with those steely blue eyes in that dramatic scene in Camelot.
Some nights, the audience screamed with such hysteria, it made me wonder
if The Beatles had appeared.
During the run of Evita
during 1983, I experienced some of the most memorable times working at
the theatre. There was so much "soap opera" drama happening behind the
scenes backstage, onstage, and with the house staff, that we referred to
our adventure as "Golden Gate Place." The musical had probably some of
the most beautiful music of any show during my time there. What an incredible
show!
But when you get right down to it, especially with the perspective of
time, the show that I believe has the most potential of being looked at
in about 100 years as being one of the most amazing musicals to hit the
20th century, my vote invariably goes to Sweeney
Todd, a Stephen Sondheim
musical extraordinaire. Many may disagree, but I have never witnessed such
intensity and complexity in any musical I've ever seen, before, during,
or after working at the Golden Gate Theatre (and that includes Phantom
of the Opera and Les Miserables).
It wouldn't have been my first choice of subject matter, but that's exactly
what brings such tension and frightening drama that makes my spine shiver
just thinking about it! Hey, it's my web page and my opinion.
Hear a MIDI version of Sweeney Todd Theme
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Updated on Monday, November 08, 1999 |
This page was originally created and published on
January 16, 1998 by Steve Israel, Novato, California. If you happen to
discover a dead end link from this or any other page on this site, or problems
of any kind, I would really appreciate you letting me know. Also, any other
comments, suggestions, or just plain "hellos" are always welcome. Contact
me via email at: ggtheatre@steveswebstop.com